ARLINGTON, Va. — Insurance losses for vehicle damage typically are highest, or worst, for sports cars and luxury cars. Passenger vans and station wagons typically have the lowest collision losses, says a new study by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI).

Worst

The Mitsubishi 3000GT has the worst overall collision loss experience among 1995-97 model passenger vehicles. The 3000GT's average loss payment per insured vehicle year, which reflects both the frequency and size of collision claims, is 3 times higher than the average for all cars.

"For the third year in a row, a sports car has the highest overall vehicle damage, or collision, losses," Kim Hazelbaker, HLDI senior vice president, points out. Two other sports cars, the Porsche 911 convertible and the Toyota Supra, have the second- and third-highest average loss payments per insured vehicle year. Eleven of the 22 models with the worst collision results are luxury models, six are sports models, four are small two-door models, and one is a large passenger van. All of these vehicles are imports.

Best

The Buick Century has the best overall collision loss result — more than 50 percent lower than the result for all cars combined. The Chevrolet Venture has the second-lowest collision losses. Twelve of the 20 vehicles with the best overall collision loss results are passenger vans, two are station wagons, and six are four-door models. All but two are midsize or larger, and all are domestic models.

Vehicle size strongly influences collision losses. Claims for crash damage typically are more frequent for small cars than for large ones. Overall, small two-door models have the highest frequency of collision claims, and sports and luxury models have the highest average loss payments per claim.

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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
is an independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organization dedicated
to reducing the losses — deaths, injuries and property damage — from crashes on
the nation's roads.

The Highway Loss Data Institute shares and supports this mission through scientific
studies of insurance data representing the human and economic losses resulting from
the ownership and operation of different types of vehicles and by publishing insurance
loss results by vehicle make and model.